Belt fastener



Patented .lune 8, 1925.

g UNITED STATES EDWARD W. IIIRSCHMA'N, OF FINDLAY, OHIO.

BELT rnstrnn'ua.

Application filed August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731,866.

This invention has reference to belt fasteners, such as buckles and the like, and consists of a belt fastener provided with means for gripping the trousers to prevent the fasteners riding over the top of the trousers.

An object of the invention is to provide a trouser grip combined with a conventional buckle or other belt fastener in such a 1nanner as to require little, if any, alteration or change in the design or structure of the buckle itself; the trouser grip being in the nature of an addition thereto.

A further object is to provide a combined belt fastener and trouser grip adapted to engage and be supported by the trousers only and free of any attachment to the shirt which is protected from Contact with the trouser grip by the flaps of the trousers.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following detailed description of the saine and from the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view illustrating the practical application of the invention as seen in elevation; Figure 2, a top view thereof; Figure 8, a vertical sectional view of the buckle and trouser grip; Figure 4;, a view of the buckle and trouser grip as seen from the rear; and Figure 5, a detailed view ofy the operating lever of the trouser grip.

Describing the invention in detail 10 designates a buckle of more or less conventional design consisting of a rectangular face plate having upper and lower longitudinal edges flanged to provide rearward ly extending bars 11 and 12, each of which is provided near one end of the buckle with a circular opening to receive pintles 18 of the belt clamp 14 in which is engaged the end 15 of the belt strap. The other end 16L of the strap is adapted to be clamped to the buckle by lock rod 17 which is slidably supported in the diagonal slots 18 at the opposite ends of bars 11 and 12.-

The trouser grip is applied to the upperv bar 11 preferably at the center of the buckle and consists of a small clasp having an inverted U-shaped body 19 presenting rigid arms 23 and 24 confronting each other in c secured to the bar 1l and is lined with a flat U-shaped spring 22 which has vone end fastened to the outer arm 23 of the body, the other end of the spring being free and normally resting against the lopposite or outer arm 2e. W hen the device is in place with the U-shaped clasp straddling the outer flap 2O of the trousers' the free end of the spring is flexed inwardly in binding engagement with the trouser iiap by means of an operating lever 25 fulcruined on the clasp arm 2e and engaging the spring thru a slot in the arm. As shown in Figure 5, i

the lever has a tit 25 at its lower end which engages in a vguide slot in the spring. It will thusbe seen that when the lever is in the position shown in Figure 3 the outer flap of the trousers is firmly gripped by the spring of the clasp and in order to effect a release, it is merely necessary to move the upper or handle end of the lever downwardf ly, removing .the pressure on the spring as will be readily understood.

An advantage of the invention is that the clasp, being small and occupying but little space, is capable of being overlap-pcd at the back by the rear trouser iiap 26 without producing an annoying or discomforting bulge of` material. Moreover,the rear trouser flap provides a shield between the clasp and the shirt of the wearer so that there is little likelihood of the shirt being torn or otherwise injured by contact with the clasp. In addition, the face plate of the buckle conceals the clasp fromview as will be observed from Figure` 1 and the provision'of a lever-operated spring clasp makes it easy to quickly lock or release the clasp with respect to the trousers.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described in connection with only one type of belt buckle but it is to be understood that the invention is adapted to beused with other conventional types of belt buckles and also with belt'fasteners of special design.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new and desireto secureby Letters Patent is:

A belt buckle having a U-shaped member secured to its upper longitudinal edge and depending rearwardly thereof withits lowl' er terminal spaced upwardly from the low-A er longitudinal edge of the buckle, said.

U-shaped member presenting rigid arms confronting each other in a direction at right angles to the vertical plane of the buckle. and relatively spaced apart to straddle the` upper edge of a. trouser flap, and means carried by the said arms for 5 gripping the lsaid flap to secure the said U-shaped member thereto, said U-sliaped member being freely. slidable along thesaidv flap and Without being disengaged therefrom Whenever the gripping means is released t'o permit` the buckle to) move freely when adjusting the belt longitudinally.

1n testimony whereof I affix my sgna ture.

EDWARD W. HIRSCHMAN. 

